Wayne Rooney

Chelsea spent the best part of the summer chasing after Wayne Rooney in one of the off-season’s biggest transfer sagas.

Jose Mourinho even claimed his summer transfer policy, in a nut shell, could be accurately described as ‘Rooney or Bust’. Many believed the England international was on his way to Old Trafford, until a hard-working performance against the Blues convinced the British press otherwise.

That seemed to put the issue to bed, but the summer transfer episode has transformed into a January spin-off over the last few days, as it’s been widely speculated the West Londoners could give their Wazza Roo pursuit another go.

The 28 year-old’s contract is set to expire in 18 months’ time – part of the reason Manchester United were reportedly prepared to sell in the summer – and although the Red Devils are expected to offer the in-form striker a new deal, we are yet to see any progress.

Should an extension agreement not be thrashed out by the end of the month, it will undoubtedly act as encouragement for the Blues to launch a formal bid.

And there couldn’t be a better time to snap-up the United icon than amid his current blaze of form; the Three Lions star has recorded nine goals and nine assists in 16 Premier League starts this season, also claiming five Man of the Match awards.

With Manchester United still unable to stop the rot triggered by Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement, switching to a more likely title candidate would be a timely departure for the former Everton striker.

But regardless of his contract status, the Red Devils will undoubtedly make Chelsea pay through the nose for their most in-form player mid-season.

Rumours of a £30million bid have circulated in the tabloids and online, but others believe the Premier League champions will insist upon a more lucrative deal, perhaps involving Blues misfit Juan Mata.